> I'd like to relate something interesting that happened at the show. The> story starts back in March when I spoke to a parent about the poor attitude> of her 8th grade son. He was very talented, but refused to attempt the> projects I presented. The piece I showed her at the meeting was a small> detailed painting of Michael Jordan in slam dunk position, in the middle of> a huge blank red background. The idea of the lesson was to make the figure> ground relationship equal, which this student openly refused to do. Anyway,> at the art show, the parent asked me why this painting was in the show? She> thought I didn't like it! I responded that while he didn't try to explore> the concept I had set out, he did make a great painting which deserved to> be shown. Has anything like this happened to others? Do you hang artwork> that went somewhere interesting, yet didn't follow the path the teacher> blazed?>

Mark, Congrats on your show. Yes I show work that was taken to places
not directed. I am an end product person. I like divergent thinking
but the student usually must tell me that they want to try their artwork
a certain way (not for a quicker, faster product). But even then, if it
looks great I show it. (This can sometimes work against me if kids
catch on to this - but then they usually move on to the middle school
shortly after)